m 



,7 





WAR SKETCHES, 



FROM 



Cedar Mountain to Bull Run, 



V\^AR SKETCHES. 



From Cedar Mountain to Bull Run. 



CONSI.STING OK 



Personal and Historical Incidents 



Campaign under Major General Pope, 



IN THE SUMMER OF 1862. 



BY A STAFF OFFICER. 






BUFFALO : 
YOUNG, LOCK WOOD cV CO's STEAM PRESS. 

1882. 






//7i/i/^- 



// 



INTRODUCTION. 



The subject matter of the following chapters appeared in 
the " Buffalo Commercial Advertiser" in a series of letters 
during the past winter, over the signature of L. The writer 
supplied his friends (as he thought) most bountifully with 
the papers containing said letters, but all the copies that 
he has been able to beg, borrow or buy have not been suffi- 
cient to "go round," hence he has felt impelled to put the 
articles in a new form, with sundry corrections, and now 
hopes that there will be enough for all. 

Much difificulty has been experienced in keeping run of 
the army movements described, for lack of a map. This 
want we have remedied, and have prepared a map that will 
aid the lay reader at least in comprehending the apparent 
mix-up of army operations. 

Several parties have said, "You are an apologist for Gen- 
eral Fitz John Porter." If so, it is incidentally only, as I 
had not read the full text of General Porter's defense until 
after these letters appeared in print. If I had, it is very 
possible that the war sketches in which he appears would 
have been much more amplified. He is a gentleman with 
whom I have no acquaintance, have never met, have no re- 
collection of having even seen. If a simple statement of 
facts, of occurrences on the field of Manass,as, is an apol- 
ogy, certainly he is entitled to that much from friend, foe or 
a stranger. The President of the United States has within 
a few months past, upon the presentation of evidence not 
available at the time of the court-martial in January, 1863, 
remitted the harsher portion of the sentence it imposed. 

Is it too much to expect that Congress will do itself and 
the American people the honor of rendering full and com- 
plete justice to as honorable a soldier, as long-suffering a 
patriot and as gallant an officer as was engaged in the War 
of the Rebellion ? t 



WAR SKETCHES. 



FROM SPERRYVILLE TO CULPEPPER. 



On May 23d, 1862, Jackson, with an army of over 20,000 
men, swooped down upon the Shenandoah Valley, driving 
Banks, with his command of 6,000 troops, all the way from 
Strasburg to the Potoniac, a distance of 53 miles. This re- 
trograde movement was made in forty-eight hours, bringing 
along guns, stores, wagons, sick and lame, as the conven- 
iences, or more properly, " impedimenta " of the flight would 
allow. When safely across the river General Banks wrote : 
" There never were more gratified hearts in the same num- 
ber of men than when, at midnight on the 26th (May), we 
stood on the opposite shore." 

The redoubtable Confederate general, finding the Poto- 
mac intervening between him and Banks, leisurely retraced 
his steps up the valley. Fremont attempted to intercept 
him at Strasburg, but failed, and pursuing Jackson to Cross 
Keys and Port Republic, brought him to bay. But the at- 
tempt was unsuccessful, and on June 8th the Confederate 
army marched away, carrying with it the spoils and cap- 
tives of victory. General Sigel, in the meantime, was hast- 
ening from the west by way of Baltimore by special trains, 
reaching Harper's Ferry on June ist, and on the following 
morning pushed forward all available troops in aid of Fre- 
mont at the upper end of the valley ; but too late to over- 
take the wily Confederate foe. 

On June 27th Major General Pope was put in command 
of the newly organized Army of Northern Virginia. This 
appointment gave such offense to General Fremont that on 



the same day of Pope's promotion he issued an order re- 
signing his command, and General Sigel, by an order from 
Washington, assumed the command of his corps. On the 
14th of July Pope issued the famous " Bombastes Furioso " 
pronunciamento that made him the laughing stock, not 
only of the army, but the whole nation. In those dark 
days of 1862 this smile was very near akin to a frown ; but 
now, twenty years after, it creates a broad grin, as we read : 

" I have spent two weeks in learning your whereabouts, * * * 
I have come to you from the West, where we have always seen the backs of 
our enemies. * * * In the meantime I desire you to dismiss 

certain phrases I am sorry to fmd much in vogue amongst you. I hear con- 
stantly of taking positions and holding them — of lines of retreat and bases of 
supplies. Let us discard such ideas. Let us look before and not behind. 
Success and glory are in the advance," &c. 

Other orders followed in quick succession, one of which 
provided " that the inhabitants along the line of travel would 
be held responsible for any injury done to track line or 
road, or for any attacks on trains or stragglers by bands of 
guerrillas in the neighborhood." In another order "all dis- 
loyal citizens within reach of its respective oflficers " were 
" to be arrested at once. Those taking the oath of alle- 
giance, and giving sufficient security for its observance," 
were to be allowed to remain ; " all others to be conducted 
to the South, beyond the extreme pickets, and if again 
found anywhere within the lines " were " to be treated as 
spies and subjected to the extreme rigor of military law." 

The resulting effects of these orders were, to license the 
brutality of our soldiers towards their victims ; pillage and 
arson ceased to be crimes. The Confederate government, 
by way of retaliation and protection, issued a counter order 
declaring that General Pope and the commissioned of^cers 
under him were " not entitled to be considered as soldiers, 
and therefore not entitled to the benefit of cartel for the 
parole of future prisoners of war," and that in the event of 
the murder of an unarmed citizen or inhabitant of the Con- 
federacy, by virtue of these orders, that Pope or any of his 
commissioned officers in the hands of the Confederacy 
should be hanged, man for man. 



7 

General Pope did not leave Washington for the army 
until July 26th. At this time General Sigel, in command 
of the first corps, lay at and in the vicinity of Sperryville — 
a scattering little village, lying at the foot and easterly of 
the Blue Ridge, distant about sixty miles, south-westerly, 
from Washington. General Banks had established his 
headquarters at the town of Little Washington, distant 
about four miles northerly of Sperryville. General Pope 
made his headquarters in the same town with Banks. At 
this time Sigel's command numbered 11,500 men, divided 
into three divisions : the first under Major General Schenck ; 
the second under Brigadier General Schurz ; the third was 
somewhat divided, but under the immediate direction of 
the commander of the corps. General Banks commanded 
the second corps, numbering about 8,000 men. Major Gen- 
eral McDowell was supposed to be at Fredericksburg, and 
had in command about 18,500. The cavalry distributed 
through the three corps was estimated at 5,000 men and 
horses ; making the Army of Northern Virginia figure up 
a grand total of 43,000. The defeat of McClellan in front 
of Richmond in the latter days of June and first of July, 
enabled the Confederate commander, Lee, to release his 
able lieutenant. General Thomas J. Jackson (better known 
under the soubriquet of " Stonewall "), from the army en- 
gaged in defense of the capital of the Confederacy, and 
try conclusions with the now famous proclamation-com- 
mander of the Northern Army. Early in August Jackson 
began his movement from Orange Court House, crossed the 
Rapidan, and advanced towards Culpepper Court House. 
At this time the divisions of Generals Schenck and Schurz 
were stationed at Sperryville. General Von Steinwehr held 
the right of the corps at Thornton Gap, about six miles from 
Sperryville, guarding the pass from the Luray Valley, and 
watchino; the movements of the enemy in the Shenandoah. 
General Milroy was on the extreme left at Woodville — a 
small village lying between Sperryville and Culpepper, dis^ 
tant about five miles southeast from the former, and fifteen 



8 

miles from the latter. Colonel Cluseret, a French officer of 
experience, of great vigilance, educated in every branch of 
military art, and possessing in an eminent degree the genius 
of war, held an advanced position at Greighersville, some 
miles southerly of Woodville. His command was that of a 
corps of observation. It was uncertain at the time whether 
Jackson would strike by way of Madison, C. H., which 
Cluseret was watching, by way of Culpepper, which Milro)' 
was guarding, or the Shenandoah Valley, the scene of his 
great exploit in May. The disposition of Sigel's corps was 
perfectly well known to General Pope. 

Early in the day, on August 8th, (the day before the bat- 
tle of Cedar Mountain, more properly Slaughter Mountain, 
from a reverend Virginia gentleman of that name, who occu- 
pied an old-fashioned mansion near the crest of the hill) a 
dispatch was received from Pope, saying : " Hold yourself in 
readiness to march." Immediately thereupon the two divi- 
sions at Sperryville (Schenck and Schurz) were called out, 
and kept under arms, while Milroy, Steinwehr and Cluseret 
were notified to hold themselves in readiness and await fur- 
ther orders. In the meantime Bank's corps passed by our 
left, en route for Culpepper. At 6 o'clock in the evening 
another despatch arrived from Pope, written at Culpepper, 
saying: " The enemy has attacked our right. " '-^ " 
Move your command to this point (Culpepper). " "" * 
Move on the road from Sperryville to Culpepper, and en- 
camp at the point where the road crosses Hazel river. You 
will continue the march to morrow morning so as to arrive 
here at as early an hour as possible, unless otherwise or- 
dered." Within an hour the body was in motion. In the 
meantime Milroy, Steinwehr and Cluseret were notified. 
Schenck and Schurz reached Hazel river between lo and 1 1 
at night, distant about five miles from Culpepper, while 
Milroy continued on to the town. During the night an- 
other order came from Pope, instructing Sigel to reach Cul- 
pepper next day (9th) at 12 o'clock. At 5 o'clock on the 
morning of the 9th, another despatch was received from 



9 

Pope, saying: "Halt your command at Hazel river. Let 
the men get something to eat and lie down and rest. If it 
is necessary for you to come forward to-day word will be 
sent to you in time." 

Our men were ready, and preferred marching early in the 
morning, rather than in the heat of the day. After waiting 
until 9 o'clock the wished for order came, in these words : 
"Advance your command immediately to this point " (Cul- 
pepper). 

When General Sigel received the first despatch from 
Pope, to hold himself in readiness, he sent an intelligent 
young officer to Culpepper Avith a suggestive note, asking 
which road he should take, meaning the direct and only 
road from Sperryville to Culpepper, or, turn to the right 
(south) at W oodville, and pursue the read leading to Madi- 
son, C. H., and thus take Jackson on his left flank between 
Culpepper and Cedar Mountain. The idea of a flank move- 
ment was evidently discarded by Pope, as he did " holding 
positions," " lines of retreat " and " bases of supplies," and 
he sent a reply to come direct. 

In the Court of Inquiry to investigate Pope's conduct of 
the campaign he made a mean use of Sigel's suggestion, 
by stating that this question of Sigel's involved a delay of 
twenty-four hours in reaching Culpepper. 

If there was a delay of twenty-four hours or even twenty- 
four minutes, it did not arise from tardiness on the part of 
the commander of the first corps, as every order had been 
promptly obeyed — even anticipated by ten hours on the 8th 
and five hours on the morning of the 9th. As soon as the 
column was in motion General Sigel and staff hastened 
forward and reported in person to Pope at Culpepper at 1 1 
o'clock, A. M. This major general, in command of the 
Northern Army of Virginia, who had announced by proc- 
lamation a few weeks before that his headquarters would be 
in the saddle, was found domiciled in a comfortable man- 
sion, lolling on this hot August morning in a rocking-chair, 
smoking a very fragrant havana — General McDowell keep- 
ing him company. 



10 

Everything in and around Culpepper was in the wildest 
confusion. The cry in every mouth was " Jackson is com- 
ing. He has crossed the Rapidan w4th 20,000, with 30,000 
and even 50,000." Troops were pouring in from all direc- 
tions. No master hand appeared to bring order out of the 
confusion, no master mind to restore the confidence that 
Jackson's very name had shaken. In this interview between 
the three major-generals no censure for delay Avas ever 
hinted at. Pope expressed himself very well satisfied with 
the movement of Sigel's troops. At this very moment 
Banks was on his march toward Cedar Mountain, distant 
about eight miles south of Culpepper. In fact the cavalry 
had pushed beyond Slaughter's Hill, and skirmishers had 
deployed and were advancing — while Pope was taking his 
dignified ease, apparently ignorant of matters at the front. 



CULPEPPER TO CEDAR MOUNTAIN AND RETURN. 



So soon as Sigel's two divisions reached Culpepper, Gen- 
eral Milroy, who had arrived early in the morning, and his 
command, w^ell rested and refreshed, was ordered to march 
to the assistance of Banks. The divisions of Schenck and 
Schurz had marched from Hazel river ahead of their 
wagons, and had to borrow supplies from McDowell's com- 
missariat, and give the men rest and supper before going 
further. Sigel, accompanied by his staff hastened forward. 
Soon after leaving Culpepper, the boom of cannons was 
distinctly heard from the direction of Cedar Mountain. 
Reaching Calvern's Tavern, about two miles from the line of 
battle, a field hospital had been established, where the dead 
and wounded were being brought in, and the serious work 
of surgery in active operation. The rattle of musketry was 
now heard, together with the louder peals of cannon. As 
we advanced, the usual concomitant of the rear of a battle 



II 

field was witnessed, in straggling men. Some had lost sight 
of the position of their regiments, others, because of highly 
prudential reasons, while yet other poor fellows, too badly 
hurt to remain in front, and not sufficiently injured to be 
transported by ambulance or stretcher, were hobbling to the 
rear in search of surgical aid. Further on came a crowd 
through the gathering darkness, evidently a whole regiment 
in stampede. The general met them and commanded : 
" Halt ! what regiment is this?" A reply came out of the 

darkness, " The Maine." " Where is the colonel ? " 

A mounted officer came forward and announced himself as 
the officer in command. General Sigel then instructed him 
to face about, form his men across and on both sides of the 
road; hold his position and prevent stragglers from passing. 
The colonel asked who was giving the command, and 
when informed that it Avas " Major General Sigel," he in- 
stantly replied, " All right. General," and proceeded to exe- 
cute the order. Several other large bodies of men were 
met hastening in disorder to the rear. This condition of 
things was soon stopped, and the rear of the battle field 
began to assume something like an organized line of battle, 
prepared either to advance or cover a retreat. Approach- 
ing nearer the front, two batteries were discovered, the 
cannoneers so bewildered in the darkness that they were 
actually firing at each other. General Sigel soon stopped 
this fraternal duel, and turning the guns against a battery 
of the enemy, speedily silenced it. Up to this time General 
Pope had not reached the field of battle. Arriving soon 
afterwards, he was so utterly ignorant of the position of 
the contending forces, that he actually insisted that General 
Bank's left wing was holding a position already occupied by 
the enemy, and would not be convinced to the contrary, 
until a strong body of Jackson's cavalry emerged from the 
woods, crossed a wheat field, and made a dash at our lines, 
when they were met by such a destructive musketry fire 
from Milroy's brigade, which General Sigel had placed in 
position a few minutes before, that the attacking party 



12 

wheeled about and galloped oft at a much quicker pace than 
they had advanced. But for this repulse, General Pope and 
his whole staff would have been gobbled up. The divisions 
of Generals Schenck and Schurz, now arriving, were pushed 
to the front, and Bank's troops retired to the rear at three 
o'clock in the morning. The battle of Cedar Mountain was 
now virtually over — a battle commenced by a blunder, 
fought without a plan, in which we were whipped and 
would have been annihilated but for the opportune arrival 
of Sigel. The announcement of his arrival spread over the 
field as though a telegraphic wire communicated with every 
battalion. The whole army seemed to be electrified by the 
cry, " Sigel has come ! General Sigel has arrived !" By the 
timely arrival of the first corps, arresting the stampede, the 
judicious disposition of Milroy, and the confidence restored 
to a defeated and dispirited army. Pope was saved from the 
humiliation that he had to take three weeks afterward on 
the field of Bull Run. In both cases this incompetent and 
unscrupulous commander attempted to cover his blunders 
by a lie, first attributing the defeat of Cedar Mountain to 
Sigel's failing to come up in time ; secondly, attributing 
that of Bull Run to Fitz-John Porter, because he failed to 
comply with an order that the first military captain of our 
day pronounces impracticable, and justifies Porter in dis- 
obeying. 

On the following day large reinforcements began to ar- 
rive and, placed in position, our skirmishers pushed forward, 
the enemy presenting a bold front well posted and con- 
cealed in the woods around Slaughter's Hill ; a flag of truce 
passed between Jackson and Sigel, and the day was spent 
in burying the dead. By night we were in condition to 
make a forward move. Early on Tuesday morning (12th) 
we discovered that the enemy had fallen back, leaving a 
strong rear guard of cavalry only. Sigel's corps, preceded 
by Milroy's brigade, advanced, but met no resistance, our 
cavalry driving the rear guard before the^, who showed no 
disposition to hold any position. Continuing this ad\'ance 



13 

for upwards of five miles, it became evident that Jackson 
with his whole command had recrossed the Rapidan, hav- 
ing distributed along the whole route of about eight miles 
many of his dead and wounded, the latter being cared for 
by the people along the route. Establishing our head- 
quarters at a modern-built brick mansion (Lightfoot's) sup- 
plies and additional forces were brought forward, preparatory 
to advancing southwards and " on to Richmond ;" but alas, 
" the best laid schemes of mice and men," and generals too, 
" gang aft agley." 

By the i8th inst. we were ready for the promised ad- 
vance, when the startling intelligence reached headquarters 
from returning scouts that Sigel had sent out some time 
previously, that not only Jackson, but now Lee's whole 
army from Richmond had crossed the Rapidan, and flanked 
tlie left of our army, and was approaching the Rappa- 
hannock, where they would be between us and Washing- 
ton. Orders soon arrived from Pope's headquarters at 
Culpepper, instructing Sigel to fall back to that place, and 
within an hour we were in motion. The march continued 
all night, and by day-dawn of the 19th the whole army was 
again camped in and around the ancient boro' of Culpepper 
Court House. During this retreat General Pope exhibited 
a side of character that did not raise him in the estimation 
of the army. As our poor, dust-covered, foot-sore boys 
entered Culpepper, they were greeted during nearly the 
whole night, by a salutation of profanity from their com- 
mander-in-chief, of a style that would have graced a Missis- 
sippi stevedore much better than a major-general of the 
United States Army. During the whole of this day a con- 
tinuous stream of troops, wagons, and other appendages of 
war poured through the town, and it was not a little humil- 
iating to have a Virginia lady, whose acquaintance we made 
but a few days before, as she tendered the hospitality of 
her mansion, add " Ah ! you are returning from Richmond, 
evidently in a very great hurry." 



H 



ON THE RAPPAHANNOCK 



Early on the morning of the 20th we were safely across 
on the left bank of the Rappahannock. Pope with Rick- 
ett's division and other troops at Rappahannock Station ; 
Sigel at Sulphur Springs, distant about ten miles up the 
stream from Pope ; Banks near Kelly's Ford, about three 
miles down the river from Pope. Not knowing where or 
whom the pursuing army would strike, every man was on 
the alert. On the morning of the 2 1st, a cannon boom was 
heard from the direction of Rappahannock Station. The 
first corps was in motion before the sound had ceased to 
reverberate through the surrounding hills. A violent can- 
nonading was evidently going on, as we heard it distinctly 
during the whole march of nearly three hours. By the 
time we reached Pope's headquarters it had ceased. Sigel 
reported in person to Pope in his tent, a short distance 
from the river. 

While the generals w^ere yet in conversation, Captain 
Dahlgreen, of Sigel's staff, arrived and stated that rebel 
cavalry were on this side of the river. Pope replied, " O, 
nonsense, they haven't any troops on this side the river," 
Sigel answered, " I will see, I will see," and mounting horse, 
accompanied by his staff, started off. We had not been 
gone from Pope's presence above ten minutes, when sure 
enough, a squad of our own cavalr}', that Sigel had dis- 
patched ahead of the column, en route, approached with 
two captives, belonging to Stuart's rebel cavalry. They 
informed us that a strong body were on this side, and more 
coming. From little straws like these we may sometimes 
form an estimate of men. Pope's indifference to the in- 
formation, and the alacrity of Sigel in following it up, were 
the respective characteristics of these men throughout the 
whole campaign from Cedar Mountain to Bull Run. 



15 

While yet at General Pope's headquarters, he ?aid : " Gen- 
eral Sigel, you have the right and can make any disposition 
of the forces that you choose." This was certainly anything 
but expressive of distrust towards an oiificer accused of 
tardiness a few days before ; but this charge of tardiness 
was not trumped up until some months afterwards, when 
he (Pope) was desirous of excusing his own incapacity and 
indolence. Never was a trust more worthily bestowed and 
executed with more fidelity and sleepless activity. At 
every ford of the Rappahannock, extending for a distance 
of over fifteen miles, from Waterloo Bridge down to Kelly's 
Ford, Lee was met, and foiled in every attempt to cross the 
river. Fighting him at Kelly and Freeman's Fords, Rappa- 
hannock Station, Great Run, Sulphur Springs and Waterloo 
Bridge, it was a wonder at the time, to those in the military 
family of General Sigel, how it was possible to ascertain 
where the enemy would strike, and in every instance to 
meet him with a force adequate to repel the attack. And 
after considering this matter for nearly twenty years, " still 
the wonder grows." 

The last position taken up by Sigel was at Waterloo 
Bridge, where the last effort was made by Lee to cross the 
Rappahannock; but finding the hill tops bristling with 
cannon, and a large body of infantry strongly posted on 
the left bank, he wisely desisted from the attempt, and 
adopted a new plan of operations, which brought him into 
more immediate contact with Pope and McDowell, whom 
he found less wily and watchful than the sleepless com- 
mander of the first corps. Sigel was ordered to fall back 
upon Warrenton. As we ascended the hills from the vicin- 
ity of Waterloo Bridge, on the afternoon of August 25th, 
black clouds of smoke were seen rising from the large hotel 
at Sulphur Springs, distant about two miles below, where an 
artillery battle was fought the day before, continuing over 
eight hours, and the fine old hostelry, as if by mutual con- 
sent, was spared by the combatants on both sides. When 
General Sigel witnessed this piece of vandalism he exclaimed 



i6 

* 

with deep indignation in his tone, " By G , that is too 

bad." Many of the journals of that day charged this act 
of wantonness to his orders. 



PLAINS OF MANASSAS. 



Foiled, as I said, in his efforts to cross the Rappahannock, 
Lee resolved upon the bold'plan of sending the tried and 
trusted Jackson around the right of Pope's army, and as it 
turned out, all around it. On the very day that Sigel left 
Waterloo Bridge for Warrenton, Jackson started from Jef- 
ferson on the south side of the river, with an army of 
25,000 men. Crossing the Hedgeman river, the name given 
to the Rappahannock above Waterloo Bridge, proceeded 
northwesterly until he reached White Plains and Salem, two 
stations on the Manassas Gap railroad. From these points 
he was at liberty to continue westerly through the Blue 
Ridge and into the Shenandoah Valley, or easterly through 
Bull Run mountains, debouch into the broad plain near 
Gainsville, and thus come down in rear of Pope's army, now 
lying southerly and southeasterly of that point and distant 
from ten to twenty miles therefrom. He adopted the latter 
bold plan, and succeeded. Nothing could have been more 
expressive of contempt for his opponent than this appar- 
ently reckless course. Reaching Gainsville without opposi- 
tion, he continued easterly seven or eight miles further, to 
the line of the Orange & Alexandria railroad, striking 
Manassas Junction a little after midnight of the 26th and 
27th of August, which he surprised and captured after a 
feeble resistance. 

Pope at this time was at Bristoe Station, about four miles 
south of ManassaS; with Bank's corps, and other troops 
within call ; McDowell and Sigel also within reach for 
purposes of co-operation. This easy capture brought to 



17 

him (Jackson) 500 prisoners, 2,000 barrels of flour, 200 
barrels of pork, 50,000 pounds of bacon, 175 horses, 200 
tents and other valuable stores, that must have made glad 
the hearts of his hungry, toil-worn troops. On the follow- 
ing night (27th and 28th) he started northerly, a part of his 
force going to Centreville, while he with the major part of 
the command, moved along by way of the Sudley road, 
northwesterly, until he reached the Warrenton turnpike 
near the stone bridge, which crosses Bull Run stream, about 
seven miles from Manassas — further off, and still in rear of 
Pope. 

For a better understanding of the country and the posi- 
tion of the armies engaged in this game of. hide-and-seek, 
I will describe it in the form of a triangle. At Gainsville 
the Alanassas Gap railroad continues in a southeasterly 
direction to Manassas -Junction, distant about eight miles, 
where it unites with the Orange and Alexandria railroad 
running east and west. This line may be considered the 
base of the triangle. From Manassas Junction a country 
road runs northterly to Sudley church, about eight miles 
distant, towards the head of Bull Run, (but intersects the 
Warrenton turnpike, about seven miles from Manassas 
Junction, near the stone bridge over which the turnpike 
passes), this point may be called the apex of the triangle; 
thence running southwesterly parallel with the turnpike to 
Gainsville, about eight miles distant. The triangle is fully 
described within which were fought the two battles, or 
rather series of battles of Bull Run ; the first on July 21st, 
1861, the second on August 28th, 29th and 30th, 1862. 

While Jackson was moving northerly from Manassas 
Junction on the night of the 27th and 28th, Pope supposed 
that he was marching westerly along the base of the triangle 
towards Gainsville. His usual indolence was again display- 
ed, in failing to send out scouting parties, to ascertain where 
Jackson was, or, in his inability to instruct and question 
his scouts, if he did send them out. On the evening of the 
27th, McDowell's and Sigel's, together with other com- 



i8 

mands, reached Buckland's Mills, distant about three miles 
southerly of Gainsvillc, where 40,000 men bivouacked 
around their camp fires on that still, dark August night. 
At 9 o'clock. General McDowell with several members of 
his staff came to General Sigel's headquarters, and a con- 
versation beran between the two generals. McDowell said 
"General Sigel, what would }'ou recommend?" The latter 
replied, " Well> General, I have ascertained b\- my scouts, 
that Longstreet broke camp at Salem on Tuesday morning, 
and I ha\e made a computation, that he will reach Gains- 
villc by nine o'clock to-morrow morning. Jackson is coming 
down the W^arrenton turnpike, from the direction of Centre- 
ville ; his intention is to form a junction with Longstreet at 
Gainsville. Now if we start early in the morning, we can 
reach there before Longstreet, and we can whip Jackson." 
McDowell made no reply, but sat, at a table poring over 
maps until eleven o'clock, when he took his departure. Sigel 
in the meantime stretched himself on a sofa in the room, 
and fell asleep. Now inasmuch as McDoAxell had enjoyed 
three days' repose at Warrenton, while Sigel had been in the 
saddle almost constantly, night and day, for six days, in 
view of these facts possibly this breach of etiquette ma)' be 
condoned. 

At two o'clock in the morning (28th) an orderly arrived 
at Sigel's headquarters with a despatch from McDowell, to 
break camp at five in the morning and march to Manassas 
Junction, his "right resting on the railroad track." Before 
that hour the first corps was in motion, reaching Gainsville, 
about three miles distant, before seven. Passing through 
that village the column turned to the right and continued 
in the direction of Manassas Junction. The rear of the 
column had hardly passed through the town, before scouts 
arrived, and informed Sigel that Jackson was coming down 
the turnpike. 

Our troops were at once wheeled into line, skirmishers 
deployed, artillery advanced, and two officers sent back to 
McDowell stating what had been done, and asking his 



19 

co-operation. McDowell replied: " I'm not going to fight 
Sigel's corps ; he has had his orders." Nothing now was 
left for Sigel to do, but again form column and continue 
this fool's march— for Manassas— and az.urj' from Jackson. 

I see, as though it were but yesterday, the large expressive 
eyes of the youthful Dahlgren flash, as he related to me, 
on his return, the insulting reply of McDowell. This gal- 
lant young officer, at this time in his 20th year, fell in front 
of Richmond, within two years from that time, with the 
rank of colonel ; having in the meantime lost a leg on the 
field of Gettysburg. A boy in years, a man in understand- 
ing, and a veteran in war. 

After marching a mile or two in this direction, Sigel 
wheeled his column to the left, and struck the trail of 
Jackson's march of a few hours before— along the Sudley 
road, which he followed, determined in spite of Pope to 
overtake the enemy ; and without the co-operation of Mc- 
Dowell, if need be, to bring on an engagement with Jack- 
son, before the latter could unite his forces with Longstreet's, 
now momentarily expected at Gainsville. Early in the 
afternoon a heavy rain storm set in continuing for an hour 
or two, so that it was near sundown before the head of our 
column reached Henry's Hill, near Bull Run. Sure enough, 
as Sigel had predicted the night before, General A. P. Hitl's 
corps, forming the rear of Jackson's army, was passing over 
Bull Run. Without the loss of time skirmishers deployed, 
artillery unlimbered, and every disposition made for a 
battle. Hill had got pretty well over the bridge before we 
reached Henry's, and withdrew his forces without accept- 
ing battle. Darkness now set in, and another valuable day 
was lost. Hill's force was only the tail-end of Jackson's 
army. Where was the head and body all this day.^ Jack- 
son, as I said before, after taking Manassas, struck the 
Sudley road, followed it to near the apex of the triangle, 
entrenching himself behind an unfinished railroad embank- 
ment. Hill's corps had kept to the right of Jackson after 
leaving Manassas, and proceeded to Centreville, and it was 



20 

on his countermarch for the purpose of uniting with the 
main army, that he was discovered by Sigel on the evening 
of the 28th. Jackson thus strongly entrenched, extended 
his right to the Warrenton turnpike near Groveton, a tum- 
ble-down little Virginia hamlet, about midway between 
Gainsville and Bull Run bridge. 

At the ver}^ hour in the forenoon, that Sigel had formed 
his line of battle, and asked McDowell's co-operation. Gen- 
eral Reynolds was marching along easterly, south of the 
turnpike, and about two miles on the left of Sigel, when 
the head of his column came suddenly upon a strong body 
of the enemy ; after a short engagement the latter with- 
drew, and Reynolds continued his march in the direction of 
Manassas. He had hit the head of Jackson's column, and 
did not know it, and was now marching away from the very 
enemy he was in pursuit of. Thus the tail and head of 
Jackson's army are accounted for; now, where was the 
body? and where did it develop itself? 

During the day, Pope, who was at Bristoe Station, some 
three miles south of Manassas Junction, sent an order to 
McDowell (near Gainsville) to push on tow^ard Centreville, 
having now got the idea that Jackson was there. In pursu- 
ance of this order. General King with his division, was march- 
ing easterly along the turnpike, and when not far from where 
Reynolds had the brush in the morning, an attack was made 
on his left flank ; a very severe engagement followed, termi- 
nating only when darkness rendered further movements im- 
practicable. He had struck the main body of Jackson's 
corps, and did not know it. Thus on the Warrenton turn- 
pike within a few hours of each other, two battles were 
fought by detachments from McDowell's corps, with an 
enemy whom they were searching for, and when discovered 
they did not recognize. The head discovered b\' Reynolds 
in the morning, the main body by King in the afternoon, 
and the tail by Sigel in the evening. The latter appears 
to be the only general who did know an enemy when he 
met him, and who predicted the night before just where 
he would appear. 



21 

An unaccountable part of these performances on the turn- 
pike is the fact that, during the hot and sanguinary engage- 
ment in the evening (by King) General Reynolds was en- 
camped within a mile of the scene of the battle and never 
gave a helping hand. After the battle ceased he rode over 
to King, and after an interview extending until a late hour 
in the night, returned to his camp, and King with his 
division marched toward that bete noir of Pope — -Manassas 
Junction. General King was a brave and ei^cient officer, 
and his blunder on this occasion may be attributed to illness, 
which caused him on the following day to resign temporari- 
ly his command. Reynolds fell at Gettysburg. It appears 
from the official report that he made an attempt to reach 
King, but missed him on account of the latter having left 
the turnpike. 

On the 27th McDowell sent General Ricketts with his 
division, and Brigadier General Buford Avith the whole of 
the available cavalry, to watch the operations of the invad- 
ing army marching through the mountains, and, following 
the track of Jackson. Ricketts fell back from Thoroughfare 
Gap towards Gainsville during the afternoon of the 28th, 
and continued on to Bristoe ; as foolish a move as was 
King's in marching to Manassas Junction after his encoun- 
ter in the evening. The blunders of these two Generals in 
thus retiring from the front and right of Jackson on this 
night, seriously impaired the strength and condition of the 
forces upon whom devolved the brunt of battle on the fol- 
lowing day, yet both these Generals, King and Ricketts, 
sat on General Porter's court-martial a few months after- 
wards, and voted him guilty because he did not obey an 
order that would have destroyed his corps without a result ; 
and these two men, who had let slip the chance to " whip 
Jackson," sat as judges upon the transactions of this da}'. 
Supposing that three men. A., B. and C. had been charged 
with conspiracy, or a homicide, two of whom, A. and B., werfe 
known to be guilty, would it be considered fair if C. were 
placed on trial for the murder, and conspirators A. and B. 



sitting either as jurors or judges in the case? Would not 
the verdict be set aside instanter by the Appellate Court? 
And yet, this was the Court before which Major General 
Fitz John Porter was tried and condemned, and made the 
scapegoat for the sins of others. A board of officers, ap- 
pointed by President Hayes, composed of Generals Scho- 
field and Terry and Colonel Getty, gentlemen not identified 
with Pope's campaign, but even with prejudices inimical to 
Porter, at the time of their appointment — completely exon- 
erated that officer; and yet, blind, tardy justice still holds 
the scales, with crime and falsehood outweighing truth and 
justice. 

The last golden opportunity to beat Jackson was lost, 
and on the morrow and day following, a bitter penalty was 
exacted from the Armv of Northern Virfjinia for the blund- 
ers on the 28th day of August, 1862. 



BATTLE OF GROVETON, OR MANASSAS, 
AUGUST 29TH, 1S62. 



"Another sight had seen that morn, 
From Fate's dark book a leaf been torn, 
And Flo(klen had been Bannockburn ! " 

If Bull Run had been substituted for " Flodden," the au- 
thor of " Marmion " might have passed for a prophet as well 
as poet. He was narrating events that occurred in August, 
it is true, but the matter of some three centuries earlier than 
those recorded in this chapter. The points of semblance 
agree only as to the month and blunders. 

On the night of the 28th-29th, General Porter was at 
Bristoe Station. At three o'clock in the morning an order 
came from Pope, directing him to "move upon Centreville 
at the first dawn of day." Now, Centreville is northeast- 
erly of Bristoe about fourteen miles, while Jackson was 



23 

beyond Groveton, about six miles north of Bristoe. Why 
should he be ordered away from Jackson instead of towards 
him .-', Porter knew that some one had blundered again, 
but, nevertheless, started for Centreville. After marching 
several hours he learned from an of^cer, who Avas passing 
with an order for General McDowell, the purport of which 
was, that Porter was to march to Gainsville ; without wait- 
ing for further orders; this information sounding something 
like reason, he at once countermarched his column. After 
pursuing this retrograde march about four miles over the 
same ground he had passed a few hours before, a despatch 
arrived from Pope directing him to "push forward with 
your corps and King's division, which you will take with 
you to Gainsville." This was the very thing he was doing, 
but doing it was in controvention of orders. This first act 
of disobedience was thus so quickly condoned, that only by 
gross perversion could it have ever been construed unfavor- 
ably to General Porter. A little later in the morning an- 
other despatch came from Pope, addressed this time to Mc- 
Dowell and Porter jointly, instructing them to " move for- 
ward with your joint commands towards Gainsville," add- 
ing further, "if any considerable advantages are to be 
gained by departing from this order, it will not be strictly 
carried out. One thing must be had in view — that the 
troops must occupy a position from which they can reach 
Bull Run to-night or by morning. The indications are that 
the whole force of the enemy is moving in this direction 
(Centreville), at a pace that will bring them here by to-mor- 
row night or next day." 

If this had any meaning it was that " Lee and Long- 
street, with 40,000 men, are marching upon Centreville ; so, 
therefore, in going towards Gainsville don't go too far, don't 
get into a fight, don't obey my order if any advantage is to 
be gained, but get to Bull Run to-night." Longstreet had 
been expected at Gainsville for twenty-four hours then, and 
would have reached it on time, but for the bold obstruc- 
tions offered by General Buford, with the whole cavalry 



24 

force of the army, about 3,000 men and horses, who com- 
pelled the enemy to mo\"e with much caution, and even at 
one time forming a line of battle, supposing by Ruford's 
manoeuvres, that he was supported by a force of infantry. 
Pope seems to have shown a lucid interval occasionally 
during the campaign, but most of the time his words, acts 
and contradictory despatches were those of a madman. 
The only sane part of this order was the discretionary 
clause; otherwise it must have meant: " Take your corps 
of 17,000 men, without wagons or supplies, march to Gains- 
ville and fight Longstreet's 40,000 men, but get to Bull Run 
stream (nearly ten miles off in another direction) to-night." 

Now let us see what v^-ere even the possibilities. Porter's 
command of 10,000 with King's division of 7,000 men struck 
a road south of the line of the Manassas Gap railroad (the 
base of the triangle heretofore described), and followed it 
westerly to a small creek called Dawkins Branch, to within 
six mil,es of Gainsville, which he reached about noon. He 
soon learned what every general on the field must have 
known, that Longstreet had reached Gainsville ; the head 
of his corps passed through there early in the morning; and 
and he (Porter) found himself confronted with evidently a 
large body of the newly arrived troops, with artillery posted 
on a commanding ridge running at right angles to the rail- 
road track, right in front of Porter's column. The infantry 
protecting the batteries were concealed in the woods in 
rear. Making the discovery. Porter sent out scouts to gath- 
er information, and deployed a strong skirmish line. The 
latter was driven back, and the former returned with tid- 
ings that confirmed General Porter's worst fears. McDow- 
ell arrived soon afterwards, and the two Generals, after 
making observations, agreed as to the inexpediency of at- 
tacking the enemy. McDowell being the ranking ofificer 
was in command. King's division had not yet reached 
Dawkins branch, and McDowell rode back, arrested their 
advance, and turned northerl)^ along the Sudley road — God 
knows where, as he was not seen again until the close of 



25 

the day, after the battle of Groveton was over, when he ap- 
peared with a hungry, tired and dust-begrimmed body of 
men, on the Warrenton turnpike. This was King's divi- 
sion, which, under the leadership of McDowell, had been lost 
in the wilderness of Manassas plains, within from two to 
three miles of the battle-field near Groveton, and never 
gave a helping hand. He had left Porter without orders, 
keeping the latter in momentary expectations of an order 
from his superior. Porter continued, during the whole af- 
ternoon, to send messenger after messenger in the direction 
McDowell had taken, but no tidings could be got of him or 
King's division. Porter's right was now uncovered ; if he 
advanced his left he would have had no reserve to fall back 
upon. Both generals had agreed that they could not pro- 
ceed (westerly) to Gainesville; to push northerly towards 
Groveton would have exposed him (Porter) to an enfilading 
fire on his left from Longstreet's batteries on the ridge, 
with the certainty of a flank attack from overwhelming 
numbers, after the guns had disorganized his lines of battle. 
To remain chafing in uncertainty was to him worse than 
death ; to have done otherwise were murder. This was the 
position of affairs on the extreme left of the field of Manas- 
sas. As it turned out, however, it was the very best thing 
that Porter could have done. The testimony of Confede- 
rate officers since the war all agree, that had Porter at- 
tempted to move out of his position on Dawkins Branch 
that afternoon " he would have been destroyed," and the 
disaster that befell Pope on the following day, would have 
been precipitated twenty-four hours earlier. Let us take a 
survey of another part of the field. 

At the close of the day (28th) when Sigel discovered 
Hill, the position of Jackson was fully ascertained — north 
of the turnpike, his right resting on the high ground near 
Groveton, and extending north-easterly obliquely — in the 
direction of Sudley church, entrenched behind an unfin- 
ished railroad embankment. Early on the morning of the 
29th, General Sigel advanced along the turnpike with Rey- 



26 

nold's brigade in front, Schenk's division on his right, Mil- 
roy's on the right of Schenk's, and Schurz's division on the 
extreme right. Passing over the plain and into the woods, 
forming tlie h'nc of battle north of the pike, Jackson's out- 
posts and skirmishers were soon driven in. Continuing to 
push forward, and coming within sight of the railroad line, 
they were greeted with a blaze of musketry that staggered 
the whole front, but so persistent and impetuous was the 
attack, that at one time the embankment was reached, and 
partially carried, combatants on both sides using the bay- 
onet and clubbing their muskets ; but fresh troops coming 
to Jackson's aid, our men fell back. Later in the day an- 
other effort was made, over the same ground, but with no 
better success. The fate of Reynolds, who formed the left 
of the line of battle, was determined much quicker than the 
attack on the right. The batteries on the high ground near 
Groveton swept his troops off as though they were chaff 
caught by a whirlwind. Our loss on this day was over 
8,000 men. The loss on the other side must have been 
much less, as they fought from behind entrenchments, and 
our army made the attack, entirely unprotected. 

Had McDowell co-operated with Sigel the day before, 
when they were within three miles of Jackson, they would 
have struck him on his right and rear, and from behind 
the railroad; nothing could have saved him from being 
'' whipped " twenty-four hours before Lee and Longstreet 
could have rendered any aid ; but now we were opposed to 
him in front, and entrenched behind the railroad track. 

Pope trotted over from Centreville, arriving at what is 
known as the "Stone House," on the turnpike, over a mile 
from the rear of the line of battle, about two o'clock in the 
afternoon. His headquarters, not in the saddle, as he had 
promised, but under the foliage of a large oak tree, afford- 
ing ample protection from both shot and sun, if a missile 
had happened to reach a mile beyond its mark ; but no such 
catastrophe occurred. 



McDowell, about the time that King's division was at- 
tacked on the 28th, to hunt up Pope, as he claimed, in the 
neighborhood of Manassas, left his corps when it was actu- 
ally in face of the enemy, turned up next day at noon at 
Dawkins branch and paralyzed Porter, by taking off 7,000 
men, leaving his subordinate to shift for himself; and, as I 
have said, keeping securely lost in the wilderness, of Manas- 
ses, within the sound of battle all the day, but never appear- 
ing on the field until the bloody contest was over. The 
truth was that McDowell had lost all pluck, if he ever had 
a particle, several days before. On the 27th Sigel sent Cap- 
tain D'Estes from Buckland's Mills to meet McDowell, en 
route from Warrenton ; D'Estes said to McDowell : " Lee 
and Longstreet are coming through Thoroughfare Gap, and 
the whole rebel army (including Jackson) will be about 
60.000 strong." McDowell replied : "Then we are lost." 

The reader can make his own comments. These are facts. 

The next day was fought the " second day's battle of 
Bull Run," but in reality it wasthe t hi?'d d^y of blood and 
blundering. 



BATTLE OF BULL RUN, OR MANASSAS, 
AUGUST 30TH, 1S62. 



On the evening of August 28th, 1862, after discovering 
the rear of Jackson's army, Sigel established his headquar- 
ters at a farm house, situated on a ridge near the Warrenton 
turnpike, two miles east of Groveton, owned by a colored 
man named " Jim Robinson," who, with his family, was in 
peaceful occupancy, until Sigel's guns disturbed their rural 
quietude, on that summer evening. The valley between 
the ridges at Robinson's and Groveton reaches its lowest 
level at Dogan's farm, about midway between, where the 
depression is nearly forty feet below the ridges. A few 
rods from the Robinsons, and on the north side of the pike, 



28 

is the famous "stone house," a conspicuous landmark in 
this locality, which had been and perhaps continues to 
be to-day a place of entertainment for man and beast. 
In, and around about it, many a poor boy obtained the 
last glimpse of earth during those two days (29th and 
30th). It had been improvised into a field hospital, as were 
also the grounds around Robinson's. On the morning of 
the 30th I saw my friend. Lieutenant Schenkelberger, of 
Wiedrich's battery, stretched out on Robinson's lawn, pale 
and wan, but cheery and hopeful, notwithstanding he had 
suffered amputation of a leg during the night. After pro- 
curing for him a stimulating draught from the Medical Di- 
rector, I bade him farewell, never expecting to meet again ; 
but for many years we have lived near neighbors. 

Standing at the hospitable domicil of Jim Robinson, and 
looking westerly along the macadamized Warrenton turn- 
pike, only a very slight draft on the imagination is needed 
to detect quite a semblance between the surroundings of this 
battle field and another equally famous. A turnpike paved 
with small cobble stones runs from Brussels through the 
forest of Soignes, passes through the village of Waterloo, 
over a hill, and thence by way of Ouartre Bras and Ligny 
and on to Charleroi. 

At Robinson's near the pike we may suppose ourselves 
standing on Mont St. Jean (at about the same elevation 
above the valley), where the hosts of England and France 
contended for victory and dominion on the 18th of June, 
1 81 5 — Wellington on St. Jean and Napoleon on the oppo- 
site ridge of Belle Alliance. Ligny and Ouartre Bras in the 
distance, where preliminary battles were fought the day be- 
fore. Answering to these localities we have Centreville, 
Gro\'eton, Gainesville, and on to Warrenton via the Warren- 
ton turnpike. On our right front we have not the stone 
chateau Hougemount, with its brick garden wall, behind 
which British troops were strongly posted, and through 
which they, with their bayonets, perforated loop holes, and 
successfully fusiladed the approaching French, drixing them 
back time and again from the desperate assault. 



29 

Not this time the stone chateau with brick outworks, but 
the earth embankment of an unfinished raih'oad, behind 
which the sheltered Confederate army under Jackson, as 
securely protected as were the British behind the stone and 
brick walls of Hougemount. On the left front not the Bel- 
gian farm of La Haye Sainte, but a Virginia homestead 
known as Hazel Plain, owned by an American family named 
Chinn. A few miles in our rear, not the " Belgian capital," 
but the unpretentious village of Centreville ; and between 
Jim Robinson's and this faint substitute for the great capi- 
tal, a plenteous growth of scrub oak and pine, with patches 
of heavily wooded land for the forests of Soignes. However, 
very different feelings are inspired in viewing these two bat- 
tle fields. While our British cousins look upon the field of 
Waterloo with emotions of pride and pleasure, we survey the 
field of Bull Bun with feelings of disgust and indignation. 

During the night (29th-30th) General Porter rode over 
from Dawkins Branch to Blackburn Ford, headquarters of 
Pope, and informed his superior that Lee and Longstreet 
were on the field, and had been on his (Porter's) front ever 
since noon. Pope had written Porter in the morning that 
he expected them ; now when informed that they had ar- 
rived, he saw fit to discard the information. An idiosyn- 
cracy of this general was, that the enemy must always be 
just where he wanted them ; but never where they were. 
Porter was ordered to bring his corps by Sudley road at 
once. He arrived on the pike, between Jim Robinson's 
and Dogan's, early on the 30th. 

At noon. Pope issued a general order, announcing that 
Major General McDowell was assigned to the command of 
" the pursuit." It did not take long to determine who were 
the pursuers and who the pursued. The order also read : 
" Major General Porter's corps will push forward on the 
Warrenton turnpike, followed by the divisions of Brigadier 
Generals King and Reynolds." Generals Ricketts and 
Heintzleman to proceed further to the right on the Sudley 
Spring and towards the Haymarket road — closing with the 



30 

explicit information, " The general headquarters will be 
somewhere on the W^arrenton turnpike." By accident or 
otherwise the corps of Sigel and Reno were not named in 
the order. 

Soon after noon, Porter's corps began to move along the 
turnpike, and discovered that the enemy were in their old 
position, beyond the woods on the right, and entrenched 
behind the railroad track. Porter's line of battle w^as there- 
fore formed north of the turnpike, on the very ground oc- 
cupied by Sigel the day before. The first corps (Sigel's) 
was massed at Dogan's farm, on the left of Porter. Gen- 
eral Sigel, knowing from yesterday's experience that Porter 
was marching into the very " jaws of death," hastened from 
Dogan's to the Stone house, and in a respectful manner in- 
formed Pope that Jackson's position at this point was im- 
pregnable, and suggested that General Porter move further 
to the right, where the defense was weaker, and make the 
attack on Jackson's left. Pope replied, " I will manage this 
in my own way." Sigel then asked what position he should 
take, and received the reply, " I will command your corps." 
Ten thousand men remained inactive at Dogan's farm, wit- 
nessing line after line of battle marching into the verj- 
mouth of hell. Everyone knew that they could do nothing, 
but die — except the military imbecile sitting under the oak 
tree, behind the stone house on a ridge, two miles away 
from the enemy, on the same spot he occupied the day be- 
fore. McDowell, who was virtually in joint command, soon 
found his whole line, extending for two miles from near 
Sudley church to Chinn's house, not pursuing, but in a 
deadly struggle to hold in check the pursuers. Soon after 
commencing the movement, Porter sent a message to Mc- 
Dowell -in these words: "I fear for the result unless you 
push up Sigel. Our right is also attacked." 

Later in the day, on the north of the turnpike, extending 
from the heights of Groveton, towards Sudley church, the 
operations under Reynolds, Heintzleman and Ricketts re- 
sembled much the operations of yesterday, driving the ene- 



31 

my through the woods, storming the breastworks, mowed 
down "by musketry in front, raked and swept by cannons 
on their left near Groveton. Rallying again, and again ad- 
vancing, hurled back and then repeating the effort. 

During the forepart of the day, while Pope was massing 
his troops north of the turnpike, Longstreet, knowing well 
that Jackson could take care of himself, was marching and 
massing his troops against our left, in front of the position 
held by Porter the day before, and prevented from doing 
this same thing on the 29th, because of Porter's presence — 
to-day, without any one to dispute the right of way, quietly 
moved along the plains of Manassas, concealing his mo\'e- 
ments under shelter of the woods, and by the time that 
Jackson's guns at Groveton told that the battle had com- 
menced on their left, Longstreet then advanced in line of 
battle, until approaching Chinn's house, where the land 
rises, reaching an elevation of 20 to 30 feet above the level 
of the plain. The highest ridge is known as " Bald Hill," 
and here he met the first show of determined opposition. 
This strategic point was defended by a single brigade under 
General Warren. Longstreet, in his report says, " My 
whole line was rushed forward at a charge," driving War- 
ren's troops before it, whf) disputed every inch with despe- 
rate heroism. The resistance on the hill held Longstreet 
in check for a while. Word had been sent to Pope, stating 
our weakness at this point, and the probable strength of 
the enemy. The commander in chief then directed Sigel 
to send a brigade to Bald Hill. Mrs. Partington's efforts 
to fight the maddened waves of the ocean with a mop, was 
an exhibition of generalship equal to this. To defend the 
key of the field of battle with another brigade (Warren's 
was now almost destroyed); another little brigade of 1,500 
to 2,000 men, only to feed the approaching Moloch ! For- 
tunately, after sending this order Pope's headquarters dis- 
appeared from the oak tree, and were transferred to the 
saddle or somewhere else, so that he could not be found. 
Sigel, now untrammeled by orders, followed up McLean's 



32 

brigade with the divisions of Schenck and Schurz, and the 
brigades of Koltes and Milroy, the whole corps, was soon 
on Bald Hill. One of, the most desperate struggles of the 
war was now witnessed. The enemy maddened at such re- 
sistance here, preventing them from sweeping around the 
left of Pope's army, gaining the turnpike and cutting off 
retreat by the stone bridge in getting to the east of Bull 
Run, rushed, in overwhelming numbers at the Spartan 
band on the hill, only to be raked down by the steady 
volleys that descended upon them ; line after line ad- 
vanced, only to meet the same fate. Part of Rickctt's di- 
vision now came to the help of Sigel ; fresh troops also 
arrived for the enemy. Overwhelming numbers, however, 
compelled Sigel at last to withdraw further to the rear 
and take position on Henry's Hill; but before doing so. 
Generals Schenck and Tower were both wounded. Col- 
onels Fletcher Webster and Koltes killed ; but a bitter re- 
tribution was taken out of the enemy; out of one brigade 
alone, 631 of^cers and men were killed and wounded, The 
first corps on coming to Henry's Hill, found it already oc- 
cupied by several regiments of regulars under Sikes and 
Buchanan. With these and Sigel's troops the advancing 
enemy met so warm a reception, that after two or three 
gallant charges, and darkness coming on, they suspended 
further attacks, or, possibly, the scene on and around Hen- 
ry's Hill would have been a repetition of that on its sister 
hill a mile away. Sigel held Henry's Hill until after eight 
o'clock, occasionally gyrating a shell, or ricocheting a ball 
from 1 2-pound Napoleons, an armament for which he ap- 
peared to have had great admiration, as evidence that he 
was awake, and ready to extend such hospitality as the oc- 
cupants of Henry's Hill were dispensing that evening. Jack- 
son had attempted once or twice during the early evening 
to come out of his entrenchments on the north of the turn- 
pike, but met with such a warm reception from troops un- 
der Generals Reno and Heintzleman, that he deemed it 
more discreet to stand on the defensive, than attempt an 



33 

aggressive warfare. He found that our right had been 
foiled, but not defeated. 

About the time of the falling back from Bald Hill, I hap- 
pened to be on the Warrenton turnpike near Jim Robin- 
son's, when a gallant array of horsemen passed. I soon dis- 
covered through the gloaming that it was made up of the 
respective staffs of Pope and McDowell, headed by those 
two commanders, making for the stone bridge. The turn- 
pike was badly blocked by stragglers, wagons and ambu- 
lances, (no organized body had yet commenced to fall back). 
These impediments did not apparently interfere with their 
exit from the f^eld of Bull Run. As the last of the caval- 
cade swept by, I involuntarily exclaimed, " now {he devil 
take the hindmost I suppose." 

Sigel held Henry's Hill until after 8 o'clock, then gradu- 
ally withdrew, grumbling out a cannon shot occasionally, 
and thus covering the retreat over the bridge, which he 
crossed near midnight. After crossing, his guns were speed- 
ily in position, covering the approaches from the other side, 
and here waited for two or three hours, until every animate 
object had crossed (the brigade under Schurz being the last 
to pass over), when he destroyed it with fire and powder, and 
fell back on Centreville, slowly and in order, which place he 
reached a little after six in the morning, about nine hours 
after Pope. He reported at once to his superior at head- 
quarters, stating what he had done. No questions were 
asked on the other side ; neither did a word of commenda- 
tion escape from the lips of this marplot of a general. 

Pope wrote to Washington after reaching Centreville, 
that he had lost neither guns nor wagons. Lee claimed to 
have taken 7,000 unwounded prisoners, and thirty pieces 
of artillery— Lee was generally considered truthful. Pope 
was some six miles away. In twenty-two days we lost 
30,000 men, and arms, ammunition and stores valued at 
millions— in the campaign commencing at Cedar Mountain 
and ending with Bull Run. 


















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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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